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Northampton County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land

DWR counted 1,256 deer killed in Northampton County in the 2025-26 season: 546 antlered bucks, 91 button bucks and 619 does. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 4% of the county is public land, the largest share DWR land (WMAs) (7,703 acres), by the USGS Protected Areas Database.

Data updated October 2026. Deer: DWR Deer Kill Data. Bears: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County. Seasons: DWR's 2026-27 deer and bear regulations. Land: PAD-US 4.1.

Map of Northampton County, Virginia: public land by manager, neighboring Accomack County, Mathews County, Middlesex County, City of Virginia Beach and York County, highways US 13, VA 183 and VA 184 and Cape Charles, Exmore and Cheriton

DWR land (WMAs)State parks and natural areas (DCR)National wildlife refugeOther state landNorthampton CountyNeighboring countiesHighway

Northampton County at a glance
Size716 square miles
Public land4% (20,054 acres)
Wildlife management areasMockhorn WMA, Jones Cove WMA, Coastal Forest WMA
Deer killed, 2025-261,256 (546 antlered, 619 does)
Deer killed per square mile1.8 (worked out from DWR's count)
Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27November 14 to January 2
Earn a BuckNo

How many deer are killed in Northampton County?

DWR counted 1,256 deer in Northampton County in 2025-26, up from 1,215. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 1,793 in 2001. The last 20 seasons:

SeasonAntlered bucksButton bucksDoesTotal
2025-26546916191,256
2024-254981126051,215
2023-245381065581,202
2022-234551195911,165
2021-225421196611,322
2020-215151297271,371
2019-205151547951,464
2018-195361187471,401
2017-18453986401,191
2016-174791186291,226
2015-164951237031,321
2014-155311267031,361
2013-144951275941,216
2012-134211145921,127
2011-12523977061,326
2010-115081737581,439
2009-105901457641,499
2008-096411417811,563
2007-086551697571,581
2006-075531257601,438

Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Northampton. DWR's figure for the latest season is preliminary and leaves out the late urban archery and late antlerless-only seasons.

When are the 2026-27 seasons in Northampton County?

SeasonDates, 2026-27
Deer, early archery (either sex, statewide)October 3 to November 13
Deer, early muzzleloader (most of the state)October 31 to November 13
Deer, firearms, private landsNovember 14 to January 2
Deer, either-sex daysNovember 14 through January 2 (full season)
Bear, archeryOctober 3 to November 13
Bear, muzzleloaderNovember 7 to 13
Bear, firearmsClosed season

Sources: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons; DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons, read 2026-10-18. Late archery and late muzzleloader seasons differ by area; DWR's pages list them. Public land other than the national forest and DWR's WMAs follows the private land seasons.

How much public land is in Northampton County?

4% of Northampton County is public land: 20,054 of its 501,552 acres. The largest share is DWR land (WMAs), 7,703 acres.

ManagerAcresShare of Northampton County
DWR land (WMAs)7,7031.5%
Other state land6,7571.3%
National wildlife refuge3,4370.7%
State parks and natural areas (DCR)2,1570.4%

Measured by FilledTag inside the county line from USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Hunting is allowed on most national forest and DWR land; Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed to it, and state parks allow it only in places.

Wildlife management areas in Northampton County

WMAAcres in Northampton CountyFirearms deer season on the WMA
Mockhorn WMA7,378Follows the private land season
Jones Cove WMA325Follows the private land season
Coastal Forest WMA38November 14 to January 2

Which counties border Northampton County?

County or cityPublic landDeer, 2025Antlered, 2025Bears, 2025
Accomack County6.4%3,1921,140
Mathews County0%471175
Middlesex County0%674267
City of Virginia Beach7.6%168820
York County3.5%516265

Highways crossing Northampton County: US 13 (82 miles), VA 183 (7 miles) and VA 184 (3 miles). Towns inside: Cape Charles, Exmore, Cheriton and Eastville.

Questions hunters ask

How many deer are killed in Northampton County?

DWR counted 1,256 deer in Northampton County in 2025-26, against 1,215 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 1,232 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 1,793 in 2001, worked out from DWR's figures.

When is deer season in Northampton County in 2026?

Early archery runs October 3 to November 13 and early muzzleloader October 31 to November 13 in most of the state. The firearms season on private land in Northampton County runs November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 14 through January 2 (full season) (DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons).

When is bear season in Northampton County?

In 2026-27: archery October 3 to November 13; muzzleloader November 7 to 13; firearms Closed season (DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons).

How much public land is in Northampton County?

20,054 acres, 4% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Mockhorn (7,378 acres), Jones Cove (325 acres) and Coastal Forest (38 acres).

Is Northampton County an Earn a Buck county?

No. DWR's 2026-27 regulations do not mark Northampton County as an Earn a Buck county.

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Where these numbers come from

FilledTag is not part of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Numbers are copied from DWR and federal sources, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.

Virginia hunting Accomack County Mathews County Middlesex County City of Virginia Beach York County